WASHINGTON — For someone who’s one heartbeat away from the presidency, Vice President Mike Pence has somehow managed to stay arm’s length from the multiplying scandals now engulfing the Trump White House.

In fact, at the height of the controversies enveloping his boss, the vice president is even building his own political war chest, creating a political action committee to support congressional candidates, which will enhance his already-strong popularity among Republicans.

Though Pence is not at the center of the maelstrom, he hasn’t escaped totally unscathed. His credibility has been questioned in the past few days, especially after President Donald Trump undercut the explanations Pence and other administration officials gave for why former FBI Director James Comey was fired.

And new questions are swirling about what Michael Flynn told the transition team — headed by Pence — about his work on behalf of the Turkish government. A New York Times report indicates the former national security adviser told the team in January that he was under FBI investigation for secretly lobbying for Turkey during the campaign. The White House denies that, and Pence on Thursday reiterated that he only first learned of Flynn's lobbying in March.

“Pence choices: Out of the loop dupe is better than in the loop conspirator,” tweeted John Weaver, a Republican strategist who worked for Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s 2016 presidential bid. “Neither will help him long-term.”

Pence choices: Out of loop dupe is better than in the loop conspirator. Neither will help him longterm.

The New York Timessaid Flynn first told the transition team's chief lawyer Donald McGahn of the investigation on Jan. 4. McGahn is now the White House counsel and is likely to be interviewed as part of the FBI’s investigation of possible collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign associates — including Flynn.

If McGahn didn't tell Pence, the vice president "looks pretty bad for not knowing," said Norm Ornstein, a resident scholar at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute. On the other hand, Ornstein added, “obviously, if it turns out that Pence is not telling the truth about when he knew, that’s pretty devastating for him, especially if we’re looking down the road at him becoming president.”

Still, Ornstein said, it’s surprising Pence’s reputation hasn’t been hurt more already because the Trump administration is “fundamentally just staining everybody who is a part of it.”

Consider, Pence went on national TV to assure the nation that sanctions placed on Russia by the Obama administration hadn't been discussed during a December phone call between Flynn and Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the U.S. Eavesdropping by U.S. intelligence officials undercut Flynn's denial. But Flynn was fired after misleading administration officials — including Pence.

And the revelation that Trump pressed Comey, before firing him, to shut down the agency's inquiry into Flynn rocked Washington. But he had Pence leave the Oval Office before making that request, according to accounts of memos kept by Comey made public this week.

“What is it about @mike_pence that no one ever tells him anything,” tweeted David Axelrod, the former top strategist to former President Barack Obama.

But if that's true, it could prove to be a good thing.

Even after the latest explosive development, that the Justice Department appointed a special counsel for the FBI's ongoing investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Pence is still untainted enough that House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was asked by a reporter Thursday whether lawmakers wouldn’t rather be dealing with him instead of Trump. (Ryan declined to comment.)

For his part, Pence has kept his own comments about the developments to a minimum, including staying silent as Trump tweeted Thursday that the FBI’s investigation into Russia is the biggest "witch hunt" in U.S. political history.

“Whatever Washington, D.C., may be focused on at any given time,” Pence said in his usual on-message remarks at a business summit Thursday, “rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people: good jobs, safe streets and a boundless American future.”

As he keeps his head down and stays focused on his supportive role, Pence is building his own brand — and pot of political money.

His brand-new political action committee — the Great America Committee — to help congressional candidates is sure to bolster his already high marks on Capitol Hill.

Those connected with Pence and the PAC say it’s unconnected to the White House turbulence.

“I can tell you this has been in the works for a month or two, so it has nothing to do with the president,” said Jim Kittle, who was Pence’s campaign finance chairman when Pence was Indiana’s governor.

The firestorms brewing at the White House haven’t swayed Doug Deason, a veteran Republican fundraiser, who says his support for both Pence and Trump remains firm. Deason and his father, billionaire tech businessman Darwin Deason, are major donors to the conservative network associated with industrialist Charles Koch.

Deason was headed to dinner Thursday night with Pence and second lady Karen Pence at the vice presidential residence. About 30 supporters were expected at the event.

Vice presidents, much less those in their first terms, don’t typically establish their own political fundraising operations. In 1985, during Ronald Reagan’s second term, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush created the Fund for America’s Future as he prepared for his successful 1988 presidential bid.

But over a long political career, Pence has developed his own network of donors that is markedly different from the small-dollar donors who fueled Trump’s unorthodox presidential campaign.

Pence already has hit the road as a fundraiser and traveled Montana this past week to help collect funds for Greg Gianforte, the Republican vying for an open House seat in a May 25 special election.

The leadership PAC also gives Pence options for his own political advancement, said Bob Biersack, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political money.

“I can easily imagine, even if there was no more legal action taken in the next three years, that Trump would just decide, ‘I’m done with this. I don’t need this anymore’ and not run,” Biersack said of the prospect that Pence could be president.

“And in that case, Pence really needs to be prepared and have his own political operation,” he said.

He’ll also have to be prepared to answer questions about his role in the administration.

“The more Trump looks endangered, the more the spotlight will turn to Pence,” the American Enterprise Institute’s Ornstein said. “So everything he said will come under an increased level of scrutiny.”

Congressman Mike Pence, R-Ind., looks down as he speaks to the hundreds of people gathered on the south lawn of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on March 15, 2010, for the "Kill The Bill" rally opposing President Obama's plan for nationalized health care that could come up for a vote in the coming week. (Charlie Nye / The Star).
Charlie Nye

Angie's List founder, Angie Hicks, was all smiles as Gov. Mike Pence talked about her as an Indiana success story at an expansion announcement Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The Indianapolis-based company announced an expansion into the old Ford building on East Washington Street that would consolidate current employees and add 1,000 new jobs. The expansion did not happen.
Mike Fender / IndyStar

Speaker of the House Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis (left) applauds Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as they look out over the assembled state legislators following Pence's third State of the State address on Jan. 13, 2015.
Charlie Nye/The Star

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence addresses media members about changes that he wants made to the recently signed Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Indianapolis, Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2015. Robert Scheer / The Star
Robert Scheer / The Star

Gov. Mike Pence and Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz lead the Indiana Education Roundtable meeting at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis on June 23, 2014.
Anna Reed/The Star, Anna Reed/The Star

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks during a news conference before attending Symphony on the Prairie for a Fourth of July concert in Fishers, Ind. Pence is one of several Republicans Trump is considering for his vice presidential running mate.
Michael Conroy, AP

Gov. Mike Pence (left) and the Rev. Charles Harrison talk about violence at the intersection of 29th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets in Indianapolis on Monday, July 11, 2016.
Jill Disis/IndyStar

Gov. Mike Pence speaks before the start of the annual Cops Cycling for Survivors' 13-day ride across Indiana. Riders gathered Monday, July 11, 2016, at the Indiana State Museum in Downtown Indianapolis. Pence and his wife, Karen, rode the first leg.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar

Governor Mike Pence talks to the media about the putting a halt to the Syrian refugee program Tuesday, December 8, 2015, afternoon at Signature Flight Support at the Indianapolis Airport.
Matt Kryger/The Star, Matt Kryger/The Star

Peter Recchio, co-founder of Tea-MAC, the Tea Party of Michiana Action Coalition, left, and Rick Barr, right, shake hands with Indiana Congressman Mike Pence after his speech at the Indianapolis Tea Party get-out-the-vote rally held in Hummel Park in Plainfield on Friday night, October 15, 2010. Charlie Nye / The Star.
Charlie Nye

Mike Pence, Indiana Governor, hands out toy balls to spectators at the Circle City Classic parade, Indianapolis, Saturday, September 26, 2015. The event marks the annual Classic football game, this year pitting Central State University against Kentucky State University at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Robert Scheer / The Star

Republican candidate for Indiana governor Congressman Mike Pence takes a shot at the basket as he shoots from a basketball floor marked with the IU satellite campuses around the state at Indiana Black Expo, Inc.'s Summer Celebration in the Indiana Convention Center on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Charlie Nye / The Star.
Charlie Nye, Indianapolis Star

Governor Mike Pence, center, talks about authorizing the arming of soldiers at Indiana National Guard facilities and recruiting sites statewide, while speaking to the press at a press conference at the Indiana National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, Sunday, July 19, 2015. He is joined by Col. Timothy Thombleson, from left behind him, Col. Ronald Westfall, and Indiana Adjutant General Major General Corey Carr.
Kelly Wilkinson

Indiana Governor Mike Pence chats with young entrepreneur Nathan Walsh, 7, during Lemonade Day at the Statehouse, Friday, May 30, 2014. Nathan told the governor he is good in math, and that some people say he could help with the budget.
Kelly Wilkinson/The Star

Governor Mike Pence asks school children to join him in the popular last line of "Twas the NIght Before Christmas" which he read to them, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" during the Statehouse Christmas tree decorating event at the Statehouse, Friday, December 13, 2013. Children also brought handmade ornaments to hang on the tree.
Kelly Wilkinson/The Star